Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Criminal Behavior: John Wilkes Booth. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 6 page paper discusses the behavior of John Wilkes Booth in light of the criminological theory of personality disorder; it also discusses the psychological dimensions of the theory; the crime itself and the outcome. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVButhJW.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
briefly describes the crime itself and the final outcome. Discussion When John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War had been over for four days; thus, as many
scholars point out, any rationale that Booth killed Lincoln to hasten the end of the war is lost. Booth was a strong Southern sympathizer but so were millions of people
who would never have considered assassination. Looking through the many theories of criminal behavior, it seems that the most likely explanation is that Booth can be categorized as having a
"personality defect." In the mid-1960s, noted British psychologist Hans Eysenck posited what is called the "trait" theory of personality, in which personality can be explained by considering three factors,
or traits: "introversion-extraversion, neuroticism-stability and psychoticism" (Cassel and Bernstein, 2007, p. 78). Extroverts are outgoing, carefree and sociable; introverts tend to be withdrawn, controlled, thoughtful, and uncomfortable in social situation
(Cassel and Bernstein, 2007). People who are neurotic are often described as "moody, restless, worried and anxious," while those who are stable are "calm, even-tempered and relaxed" (Cassel and Bernstein,
2007, p. 78). Finally, we come to people who are called psychotic; they are "cruel, hostile, cold and rejecting of social customs" (Cassel and Bernstein, 2007, p. 78). While Eysenck
apparently did not develop his theory of behavior specifically with regard to crime, later experts found it a convincing model to explain criminal behavior. In the case of John Wilkes
Booth, it provides a useful tool to help in analyzing his behavior. Another source lists many of the theories of criminal behavior, personality defects among them. Among the traits assigned
to psychopaths are those of manipulation and deceit, as well as a lack of moral conscience (Criminology: The study of crime and behavior). These would seem to fit Booth nicely,
...